Ralph Balson (1890–1964) was an English plumber and house painter who emigrated to Australia in 1913 and subsequently became a key member of Sydney’s artistic avant-garde. He is credited with having the first solo exhibition of purely abstract painting in Australia in 1941. Despite his role in developing Australian non-objective painting, Balson remained principally a house painter, working on h…

Provenance

William Balson, son of Ralph Balson thence by descent to private collection, Brisbane; Niagara Galleries, Melbourne; Private collection, Sydney

Exhibitions

Blue Chip XXVII: The Collector's Exhibition, Niagara Galleries, Melbourne, 26 March – 17 April 2025, cat. 52

Literature

Blue Chip XXVII: The Collector’s Exhibition, exhibition catalogue, Niagara Galleries, Melbourne, 2025, pp. 58 & 64 (illus.)